Mat winding machine



April 17, 1956 Filed April 1, 1955 J. F. STEPHENS ETAL MAT WINDINGMACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIZVENTORS EPHENS lea/us llBEoOk EEP I? TTOENEY April 17, 1956 J. F. STEPHENS ETAL 2,742,240

2 MAT WINDING MACHINE Filed April 1, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSJEJSEPl-l F STEPHENS JZ'MES BH/GGM/S KENNETH B. maeook GLEN/J W 22 ,47'7'OPA/EY April 17, 1956 J, HE ETAL 2,742,240

' MAT WINDING MACHINE Filed April 1, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 w I N V ENTORS R: JBsEPH F STEPHENS A NNETH B- TLBEOOK LEN/J W 522 April 7, 1956J. F. STEPHENS ETAL 2,742,240

MAT WINDING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 1, 1953 2574-25240.MAT'WIND INGMA'ICHINE Joseph aF. Stephens; James: R: Higgins;andtKenneth; B.

Tilbrook; Kansas City Mm, and. Glenn W. Kerr Mission,. Kans., ass ignorsto GfiSfilliBtlCOll Manufacturing Co., KansasEity, Mot acorporatiomofiMissouri Appli'catibmApril 1, 19ss ,-serial1-m. 346982-17,. Claims. (61. a ia-55.1

Our invention relates toa-mat winding .machine and moresparticularly-ttoatmachineior; winding lengths of matseformed-of glass ffibers ,uponmandrels preparatory to makinggpipe coverings or; insulated ducts.-

In: co1:: endin-g--. application; of J oseph F. Stephens; and Glenn-W.Kerr serial No; 318,856, filed.:November: 5", 1952, there is shown-athermal pipe. insulation and method of,making.;the samein which rnatsofi aglass fibers sprayed witha; binder-1 are wound'upon themselves uponmandrels to forrn'hollow cylinders. The hollow cylinders-. are thenmolded, while on the-mandrels, after, whichrthe cylinders are-removedfrom-the mandrels;

Inlcopending application of; JOSCPhzF. Stephens an GlenmW. Kerr,SeriaLNoL 336,712, filed February; 13', 19-573, thereare shown insulated;,duc.ts; formed ;by i winding bindemprayed glass: fiber matsuponvmandrels: to, form tuhes'iwhich aremolded while on the mandrelsandzthen removed fromthe mandrel The winding-;-maehi-nes oflth e priorartemployed either a; plurality vof rollers withouta beltxora-pluralityof belts and ;the winding,operationwwasr di-ffieult tocontrol.

One-object of our invention is :to provide .an, improved matwinding-machine whichiscertain in operationtand in'twhich the sequenceofloperations is controlled inajpres determined manner.

A-;fu-rther objectiof our invention is toprovidea; mat winding; machinein; which aymat comprising 3 glassafibers impregnatedgwitlr atackyheat-reactive binder/may,- be rapidly, conveniently-and expeditiouslywound upon itself whileppsitionedon amandreL-to form tubes of mats-Whichmaybe subsequently-cured to iormpipeicoveringssor, insulated ducts,., I

Still another object of ourlinventioneis -tcxprovidea;mat winding Lmachine in: which the mat 1 may; be. compressed to a.-p redeterrninedt-density during the winding-operation.

Still; another object-10$, our invention is to provide a machine:forrwindinggmats "upon; mandrels' in which; the operation is-initiated.by placing a mandreliinia-predeterr mined ,positionpn supports and inwhich themattwonnd upon the, mandrel :iscreturnedto said predeterminedlposir tion and the machine-stopped."

Anadditional object of ouminvention is :to providea mat Windingmachineprovided with, improved control inswhich a complete cycle-of operations:is automatically; performed by the machinee Another-object of our,invention'is to t provide: a v mat winding machines in, i which y themat is;-circumerential1y confined duringthe. wrapping; of the matlugonth tm' drel throughout substantially, its,entire periphery. I

Other; andlfurther 1 objects of :our invention will, appear from thefollowing description,

In thenaccompanying drawings [which vform tpart otgthe instant(specification and; which are .to be; read in coniunc: tion and in whichlike ,referencenumeralsare usedto indicate like parts :inpthe variousViews :i

Frigates-1 is. a perspective simplified viewof/a mat, winding, machine.showing one embodiment. of.- our invention withparts removedtforclarityoi showing United States Patent 0 2,742,240 Ratented Apr. 17,1956 2; liigureiis aldiagrammatic :view of therimaehine shown inFigurezl'inthe positionrshowmimFigure:12

Figurev31 is aldiagrammaticzvview similar to Figured showingtheipartsciniposition readyato'wtndror wrap :amat upon-ea.- mandreliFigure 4 isaa ffagmentary'viewvdrawn on anl'enlarged seale'viewedtalong; the'tplane 4'l-4 iof:Fignre=. 1 showing: a portion of: themandrel supportaa'nd themandreLar'ml.

Eigurefipisaa fragmentarysectional view taken'alongzthe lihefiF-SofiFigu'reAa Figure dis a diagrammatic view'of thezautomaticzcomtrols-tfor: our. mat winding' rnachiner In; general,. our: invention:contemplates the: provision OfFEUrfl'aIHQ'OII whichrtherezis mounted apain offixedzrolls, aypair 'ofrpivoted roll'saand azfixedidrivingzroll.A wide, strong; flexible belt made-of rubberized fabricsuclzrzaswanvaszor'thezilikexnis passed:overz therolls; The belt also carriesiaweighted rolli'whiehzfloats upon the'belt andiis supported: therebyfortliepurposemf applying a predetermineditensionupon the..:winding: orwrapping; belt: A mandrel "is scarried:by-.'a1pair: of mandrel armstfonswinging movement .1 away from and; to; a.-: position i where the beltwraps around the'2mandrel-J. Theiwrap'ping. of; the Belt aroundfthemandreli-i'szcontrol-lediby' a tpair 'offpivotertrol-ls which arimounted; 1on1, a pair of froll arms Readily 'releasablesmeansiareziprovidecl for-rotatably supportingeithe mandreluponacenterscarriedibytliemandrel.arms. The drivingrrolliiss drivenaby any suitable;prime :mbver; such as 'zanxelectriczmotortx A pairrofa'mandreiarmsiandiroil arrn'scrnaytbeeaetuated manuallwifdesiredi. Moreadvantageously', however; the: inandrel{arms and" the roll arms;are-.powen driven: tonal-rid! from up? positions or down positionssbylanyasuitable :primezmover. Advanttageously we employairsrhotors;For'purposessofisimplicityaand; conveniencerinwunderstanding our;construction weshavesoinittedlshowingrtheiair motors per so, since thesear'e:known to,theaartrandrthespipingefor the supplyrof air to and; from.thezaiit motors:

I'ntorderrthatz ourv windinggmachine may be used: to produce: atmaximum; output withra; minimum: of: atten'- tion and? labor; we: have:provided our: mate winding; o'r wrapping machine with an improved;control; system. Qurrconstruction isr suehtthat an:- empty mandrel-:may. be placedupon rv=blocke supports; it being; understood that the:beltdriving: motor: is running; Our controls;- are suoliithatftherplacing ofztheamandrel-rtupo'n the V block supports will resultz in;the; mandrel centers: positioning themselvesa to carry: the-a mandrel;The: marrdrelr arms will-.1 then: swing the? mandrel onto the belt; The;roll armsswill ttli'en movestovarpositionaWhere the belt iwill embraeerthe mandrel; The; endtof' 'a mat of predetermined length is then"fed to-th'e'carea between the mandrel' and the belt to cause the mat tobe wound around the mandrel by the belt: The initial! movement offeeding themat conditions the I controls through a-' photoelectricelement. When-thedight beam is-brokenby the endof tlieniat traversing'the lightbeam; the-controls act tomove'the roll armsto their upwardposition; after "whichthe mandrel is mo'vedto' its upward" position'todeposit the main drelcontainingthe wrappedor Wound :mat on'theV-bl'ocksupports; As soon'asth'e mandrel is'dpjOSltd', the-mandr'el centers areautomatically moved outwardly "and thernachine placedin positionforanother cycle.

W'e,als'o provide means .to stop the belt-drivingrmotor if a length ofmat longer than :desired is fed to the mandrel. In addition to theautomatic means, we provide manual means for cycling the machines Whilewe ,will describe our invention fora mat winding machine, itli's to be.understood that our inventiontniay be usedidr winding any sheet material.upon .a. mandrel.

Morelia'rticularly referringnow to Figure 1, any ap;

propriate frame carries a pair of bearings 12 in which a shaft 14 isrotatably mounted. Secured to the shaft for rotation therewith weprovide a driving roll 16. The shaft 14 is provided with an extension 18which is coupled to or secured to any appropriate prime mover such as anelectric motor 19. A pair of bearings 20 carried by the frame 10 supporta shaft 22 by which a fixed belt roll 24 is rotatably supported. A pairof bearings 26 carried by the frame 10 support a shaft 28 which carriesa second fixed belt roll 30. A pair of bearings 32 secured to the frame10 in any appropriate manner rotatably carry a shaft 34 to which a pairof cranks or arms 36 are secured for rotation therewith. The shaft 34 isadapted to be rotated by an air motor. The air motor may, for example,conveniently take the form of a doubleacting piston 31 in a cylinder 33driving a rack 35, engaging a pinion 37, engaging spur gear 39 carriedby the shaft 34. The air piping to the air motor is showndiagrammatically in Figure 6. When air is admitted to pipe 41, and pipe43 is connected to exhaust, the rack will move to the left as viewed inFigure 1 to rotate the pinion 37 in a counterclockwise direction and thespur gear 39 in a clockwise direction, thus rotating the roll arms 36 tomove the roll arms to the down position. The roll arms 36 carry a pairof shafts 38 and 40. One of the movable guide rolls 42 is carried by theshaft 38. The other of the movable guide rolls 44 is carried by theshaft 40. The rotation of shaft 34 in a counterclockwise direction asviewed in Figure 1 will move the roll arms 36 to the up position againststops 46 actuating a microswitch 48. In this position it will be notedthat roll 44 is not in engagement with the belt 50 which is carried bythe two fixed rolls 24 and 30, the movable roll 42 and the driving roll16. The belt 50 is maintained taut with a predetermined tension by meansof a weighted tensioning roll 52 which is centerless in that it floatsand is carried by the belt 50. Weights 54 made of lead or other heavymetal may be attached to a shaft 56 carried by the tensioning roll 52.The weights 54 act, too, to prevent the floating roll 52 from riding offof the belt as they project downwardly past the edges of the belt 50. Ifdesired the weights 54 may be guided by the frame for upward anddownward movement as the belt becomes displaced due to the pivoting ofthe roll arms and mandrel arms.

A pair of bearings 60 rotatably support a shaft 62 to which the mandrelarms 64 are secured for rotation therewith. The mandrel arm shaft 62 isdriven by an air motor (not shown) in a manner similar to the driving ofroll arm shaft 34. Rotation of the shaft 62 in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in Figure 1, drives the mandrel arms against a pairof stops 66 carried by the frame. In this up position the mandrelengages the actuating arm of switch 68. The frame 10 carries a pair ofpillars 70 which carry V-blocks 72, best shown in Figures 4 and 5.Carried by the pillars 70 adjacent the V-blocks are switch housings 74,one carried by each of the pillars 70. The arrangement is such that whena mandrel 76 is placed upon the V-blocks 72 its shaft 78 will engage theswitch-actuating members 80 to close the V-block switches in housings74, as will be pointed out more fully hereinafter. The mandrel arms 64carry a pair of reciprocating centers 82 actuated by an air pistonwithin cylinders 84. The piston is a double-acting one. When pipe 86 isconnected to air pressure and pipe 88 is connected to exhaust, thepiston will move to the right to engage the tip 90 of the center 82within the hollow shaft 78 of the mandrel 76, it being understood thereis one center carried by each of the mandrel arms 64. When pipe 88 isconnected to a fluid pressure source such as air, and pipe 86 isconnected to exhaust, the piston will move to the left and bring thecenter tip 90 to the left, as viewed in Figure 4, that is, it will bringthe centers out of the mandrel shaft 78. It is understood, of course,that this occurs when the mandrel is carried through its shaft 78 by theV-blocks 72. In the centers out position, that is, with the centers tothe left as viewed in Figure 4, an arm 92 will contact theswitchactuating member 94 of a center switch 96 carried by the mandrelarm 64. It is to be understood that there is one center switch for eachof the mandrel centers carried by the two mandrel arms 64. Each of themandrel centers 82 is mounted on a spring-pressed block 100 biased byspring 102, as can readily be seen by reference to Figure 5. The initialposition of the block 100 may be adjusted by screw 101 which may berotated by inserting a wrench on squared end 103. In event a mat of toogreat length is wound upon a mandrel, the wrapped cylinder will becomeexcessively thick. When this occurs, a higher pressure will be developedbetween the mandrel and the pocket-forming rolls. The center mountingblock 100 carries a switch housing 104 provided with an actuating member106. The end of the mandrel arm 64 carries a pin 108. The tension of thespring 102 is sufficient to give proper compression and wrap densitywith a mat of correct thickness and length. If, however, a mat which isinitially too thick or too long is wrapped on the mandrel, the centerblocks 100 will move against the action of springs 102 to cause normallyopen switches 104 to close to stop the belt drive motor, as will beexplained more fully hereinafter. When the mandrel arms 64 are rotatedin a clockwise direction, that is, to the down position, the mandrelarms will actuate a switch 110. The downward position of the mandrelarms is determined by stops 67 ad justably carried by the frame 10. Whenthe roll-carrying arms are moved downwardly, that is, rotated in aclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, to a down position, theywill actuate a roll arm down limit switch 112. The downward position ofthe roll arms is governed by stops 47 which, like all of the other limitstops, may be adjusted. A source of light which is an incandescent lamp114 is directed in front of the driving roll 16 upon a photoelectriccell 116. A feeding conveyor 118 driven by a roll 120 is adapted toconvey mat sections 122 to the mat winding machine for rolling upon themandrel.

Referring now to Figure 6, the control circuit shown is energized from asource of alternating current potential drawn from a pair of main lines200 and 202. It is to be understood, of course, that any appropriatepotential source may be employed, including direct current. For purposesof clarity in describing the flow of current through our controls, wewill assume that line 202 is positive and line 200 is negative. It isunderstood, of course, by those skilled in the art, that this is aninstantaneous condition with alternating current and that the polarityis reversed on the next half cycle of the alternating potential. A pairof fuses 204 and 206 are interposed between the main lines and theterminals 208 and 210 of our control circuit. The terminals are adaptedto be energized through the blades 212 and 214 of a double pole switch.As soon as the control mains 216 and 218 are energized, current willflow through the winding 220 of a motor starter closing the switches 222and 224 and 226 to energize the belt drive motor 19 by connecting it tothe terminals 228. While it is understood that any appropriate source ofpotential may be employed, we prefer to use a three-phase 440-volt60-cycle potential to energize the induction belt drive motor 19.

The control circuit is adapted to operate either man ually orautomatically. The switch that determines which type of operation is tobe employed is indicated by the reference numeral 230 and is shown inthe automatic position. In this position the indicator lamp 232 will beilluminated while the manual indicator lamp 234 will be out. When theselector switch 230 is in the automatic position, as shown, the winding236 will be energized to position the automatic position switchcomprising the relay armatures 238, 240, 242 and 244 in arr ngethpositiorishown in Figure difor automatic operation. If winding 23.6 isde-energizedby throwing. selector switch 2301 to break the circuit:through'ithe winding 236,.arma ture,238.ywill contact contact points,246, armature 240 wilI'make contactwithicontact point. 248, armature 242willmake. con-tacttwith contact point 250 and'armature 244willflrnake,contactwithicontact point. 252.1 In the manual position the,manual. cycling, switch iridicatedigena erallyt by the: referencenumeral v254 can then be oper: atedto. control .thei.operation oi the,macliine,.,as; will .be pointed toutmoreefully hereinafter; This.switch is shown in "Figure 6 in the downwarddrivinggppsition. The icy,-cling, relay winding,i256 .controls-the:position of armatures258-and260r The armatures areflshown in theupward drivingipositiontinwhich theauxili'ary: cycling relay .windh1g5 262i; is t energized.through armature 260,, conductor 264" and: conductor: 266. In theenergized. position the aurriliary cyclingrelay winding will positionthe armatures 268i ancli27tlsin the; positions-shown in Figure e. Thecycling relay Whichis actuatedwupon-the energizationtofwinding 25,61isofi the; latching type, thattis, its armatures remain inthe-positionto ,whichthey are moved upon energization of Y the .windingbyw a mechanical ilatch. Thislatcht is,released, that is,-tthet relaytisreset,- upon the-:energizat-ion of the-resetting,winding 257. A delayinterlock! relay winding; 272,- controls the armatures 274 p and 276.The relaywwhiehis:actuated-by;winding;272 is ofizthe mechanicallatchingi electrical reset type, astis -.the relay 256i A matdelay;relay winding ;278 controlsthe armature 230. The resetting of thedelay interlock relay controlled by winding-2.724s accomplished throughthetenergization of winding-282. The centers relay; wind:ing-284-acontrols acenterswrelay which is of the impulse type;successive tirnpulses moving -the armatures :288 -and 290. controlled bythetwindingtz The armaturesare shown in- Figure: 6 in theopen position.l The: energizationa of cycle interlock: relay; winding-290 (controlsthe 1 position, ingsot-armatures 292 ;and 329413 Armani-res 29.6andtt298 aretcontrolled-ihythe resetpushzbutton 3001- A thyratron 302/is tcontrolled;:byva'tphotoelectric tube, 116 connected in ,anappropriate circuit, thezlight-iromnan incandescent lamp 114 cooperatingwithithephotoelectric; tu-be".116, as will 1 be: pointed; out I more;fully hereinafter: When the thyratron: \fires, it will; energize: relaywinding; 306', which controls the; position ;of armatures: 310; and 312.The: closing of mandreli overwrap alarm switches; 104 will energizethetoverwrapelarnrirelay windingi31'4 which controls the:arinatures-giilfii and 318-. The narmatures,- are shown in -zFigure;61in tthe'fmx-alarm f position;

A: solenoid: winding 320-: controls a; four-wayuoll arm control valve322; whenutheesolenoid- 320vis-i-energized, thevalve;322z-isapositioned1 to1.drive1 the rollarmour),- wardly, thatxis;pipewtfi' will besconnect'ed: to: a; fluid pressure; manifold PandxpipeAl will; be; connected through thevai-ve;toranexhausnmanifoldliin While we:wil-l describe ourtinventionwithrespect to thet'use. of air pressure; it is to:be-understood-that. anyappropriate source of fluidpressure may-,be employed'.?,

The solenoidrwinding 324=controls 1 they four-waytmam rel, armCOH'EIOlqVZlVB: 326. The. arrangement is. such that When' the solenoid:is. energized, the mandrel; arm

motor will drive upwardly. When the solenoid 1 324* is dot-energized;the; mandrel; arm motor! will= drive down wardl-y, In J the; drawings;the solenoimwi-ndingrg 32.4. is shown de-energizedn Inthisspositionaitrwillbe noted that the valve-326istsuch-thatzthe-pipezD, which controls the; downward movement, of: thefluid pressure motor, is connected to the fluid,ipressure.manifold,B,andrthe pipe U, which controls the upwardvdirectioniof drive, .is con.-nccted to the, exhaust manifold. i The} solenoidnwind' ing 328. controls,=thet two,-.way i fluid. pressure: supply, valve 330.Thenarrangementnis such that,.when.the. solenoid 329.. is energized,-.the ..valve ,33 0t is, i in theiopen position, that .is,v the. pipeStconnectedr'to any, appropriate n, source of tfluiipressure (not shown)is .incommunication with the pressure manifoldP.v Thesolenoid winding332 controls ,a fouiwway mandrel center cylinder controlvalve 334. Thearrangement is' such" that" when the solenoid is de-energized thecenterswill be driven in, and {when the. solenoid is energized; the centerswill'be driven out. A separate push' button switch 336'is providedfforencrgizing, the winding; 332 in the. manual ,position of the selectorswitch 23.02 Theyalve 334 is shown in the position when the solenoid332isienergized. In: this position the pipe 88"is" connectedto a pressuremanifold 'P which is vseparate from the manifold P andis constantlyconnectedtothe fluidpressure source, .thus driving-the centers out. Theother side of the piston -in,the cylinder 8'4Jis' connected to theexhaust" manifold B through ,pipe 86'. i

In operation,v therswitch 230 is first movedto its center, or neutral,position; the manual 'switch 33'6"is thrown to Popen? or off position;The mainpower switchis actuated to connectthe controlterminal's ZOSJand210 to thepower rnains 200"and202; The switch 2301s now thrown to themanual position. Themanual'icylcling switch 254is now operated to the upposition In this position, current ,willifl'ow from main 216 throughsolenoid 320, through conductor, 400; through armature 235, throughconductor 402, through armature 404, through conductor 406, to the otherside of {the line 218; thus energizingthe-solenoidwinding 320 andpositioning the valve 322toMdriver the roll'arm to its up position, asshown in ,Figt ires l and 2: In the, up position, the roll'armwill'close normally openroll'garm up limit switch 48';Currentwillnowfiow from the main 216 through the winding 324 throughroll arm up limit switch 48, through conductor4tl8;thr0ugharmaturefi240', through" conductor 410, through armature 412;through conductor'406 to the'other side-of the line 218, cuergizing thesolenoid" windiuggy324z Thiswillpdsition the four-way mandrel-armcontroljvalve'326 sothatth'e up driving pipeU is connected to thepressure manifold and drives the mandrel-arm to its up position; It'iswho understood,- of course, that the air supply solenoid" WiIiding'328is energized'by'currentflowing frornconductor-216 throughthe winding-328, through conductor 414, throughnormally closed'mandrel'arm up-1irnitswitch-68; through armature 242, through cone ductor 416; througharmature-418,?thro'ugh conductor 406; to the othersideof the-lihe-218:The-energizertion ofthe 'air' supplysolenoid-i328 will supply air to thepressure manifold P.

As soon-as the-mandr'el arm'reachesits upward-posit-ion it will 'openthe normally closeduglimit switch 68 and thus; interrupt I the currentthrough the solenoid winding- 328i When thisoccurs; theairsupplyva1ve-330 is operated to shut off the air supply The V-blocloswitches 74: will be-"in their-normally open position when there is -nomandrel-on the- V-blocks. If; by any' chance, the centers-relay is inthe closed position-,'- it is automatically" moved to' tits openposition by pressing the reset button 300. It-will be readily observedthat if thecenters relay is'in: theclosed'position, current will flowfrom the main 216, through I the armature- 290, through the=- armature298, through the, centers relay winding 284; through=the conductor 420to the other side of-"the' line; This will operatetheimpulse-type relay"and move-the armature 288 and armature 290 to their-open position;as=shown-in Figure 65 If'th'e armature 290 isin the "open"position;asshown in Figure '6, the closing of arn1ature'298 by pressing the resetbutton 300'- will not afiect' the centers relay Winding At the sametime,- the pressingqof-the reset button,3 00 will close armature 296 sothat current will flow through conductor-422; through conductor, 424-and through conductor 425, energizing the resetting winding 257"toreset the'cyclingrelays Current willyalso flow'from conductor 424,through conductort427,' through resetting winding 282'; throughconductor 430; throughiconductor 432;" to

7 the other side of the line. In this manner the pressing of the resetbutton insures that the centers relay is in the open position and thatthe cycling relay is unlatched and that the delay interlock relay isunlatched.

In the manual position, of course, of the switch 230, the indicator lamp234 will be energized. When it is desired to set the machine intoautomatic operation, the switch 230 is moved to the automatic positionshown in Figure 6, energizing the indicator lamp 232. It is understood,of course, that the incandescent lamp 114 is also illuminated throughpotential derived from the secondary winding of the transformer 113, theprimary of which is connected across the conductors 216 and 218 byconductor 440. In the automatic position of switch 230, as shown inFigure 6, the Winding 236 will be energized and will move armatures 238,248, 242 and 244 to the positions shown. The cycling relay winding 256will be de-energized so that switch members 258 and 260 will be in theposition shown. The closing of switch member 260 permits current to flowfrom conductor 216 through conductor 266, through winding of auxiliarycycling relay 262, through conductor 264, through armature 266, throughconductor 426, through conductor 428, to the other side of the line 218,thus energizing the auxiliary cycling relay 262 and moving armatures 268and 270 to the position shown in Figure 6. The closing of armature 238will energize solenoid winding 320 and move the valve 322 to drive theroll arm to its up limit position against its stop 46. The circuitthrough solenoid 320 can be established either through the normallyclosed mandrel arm down limit switch 110 through conductor 430 orthrough conductor 400, armature 238, conductor 432, armature 258,conductor 426, conductor 428, to the other side of the line 218. Whenthe roll arm is driven against its stop 46 it will actuate the normallyopen roll arm up limit switch 48 to close the circuit through solenoidwinding 324 from conductor 216 through the now closed limit switch 48,through conductor 408, through armature 240, through conductor 434,through closed armature 268, through conductor 428, to the other side ofthe line 218. The energization of the winding 324 will rotate thefour-way valve 326 actuating it to drive the mandrel arm to its upposition through the mandrel arm motor. It is understood, of course,that heretofore the air supply to the air manifold P was connectedthrough valve 330 since solenoid 328, which controls valve 330, wasenergized through the normally closed mandrel arm up limit switch 68,armature 242, conductor 436, armature 270, conductor 426, conductor 428,to the other side of the line 218. As soon as the mandrel arm reachesits up position against its stop 66 it will actuate the normally closedmandrel arm up limit switch 68 to open it and thus interrupt the circuitwhich has been energizing solenoid 328 and thus close the valve 330 tointerrupt the fluid pressure supply to the fluid pressure manifold P.The V-block switches 74 are in the open position, the mandrel centerswitches 96 are in the open position and the centers are in the outwardposition so that the switches 96 are being held in the open position.The mandrel center cylinder solenoid 332 is energized by current flowingfrom conductor 216, conductor 438, armature 290, conductor 440, armature442 of the automatic switch 238, conductor 444, through the mandrelcenter cylinder solenoid winding 332, through conductor 446, to theother side of the line 218. The energization of the solenoid winding 332will move the valve 334 to the position shown in Figure 6, driving themandrel centers out through the admission of fluid pressure throughmanifold P to the pipes 88 of the center cylinders. This outwardmovement, of course, brings the members 92 against the members 94 andthus opens the mandrel centers switches 96. The cycling relay'256 isde-energized and thus in its upward driving position, as shownin Figure6. The auxiliary cycling relay winding 262 is energized as shown inFigure 6.

. 8 The mat delay relay winding 278 is de-energized as shown in Figure6. The delay interlock relay winding 272 is locked in the open position,as shown in Figure 6. The light from incandescent lamp 114 is falling onthe phototube 116. When this occurs, the phototube will conduct. The I.R. drop through resistor 115 of the phototube will reduce the potentialupon the grid 117 of the thyratron to a sufficiently negative degreethat the thyratron 382 will not conduct whenever the alternatingpotential impressed upon its plate through the secondary of thetransformer 119 is positive. This will maintain the Winding 306de-energized, holding the armatures 310 and 312 in their light positionshown in Figure 6. Whenever the light upon phototube 116 is interrupted,the grid 117 of the thyratron 302 becomes positive so that the thyratronwill now conduct when the plate becomes positive during the alternatingpotential. The thyratron, of course, will conduct only intermittentlydue to the alternating potential. However, the charge upon capacitor 305is sufiicient to maintain the winding 306 energized during the negativeor non-conducting portions of the cycle. When the grid 117 is negative,however, the thyratron will not fire when the plate becomes positiveduring the alternating potential. In this manner the winding 306 will betie-energized whenever light falls upon the phototube 116 and will beenergized whenever the light to phototube 116 is interrupted.

The mat delay relay winding 278 is likewise de-energized. This mat delayrelay winding is adapted to close armature 280. The relay is of thedelay type, which is Well known to the art, and can be adjusted to anyappropriate delay, say between no delay and thirty seconds. The timedelay is adjusted to give a predetermined delay for the particularmandrel size being employed.

The apparatus is now in condition to start a cycle. The mat to be woundon the mandrel is placed on conveyor 118. The cycle is initiated byinserting a mandrel 76 upon the V-blocks. This closes the V-blockswitches 74, thus energizing the centers relay winding 284 throughconductor 448, conductor 450, conductor 452 and conductor 420. Theenergization of the winding 284 will move the armatures 290 and 288 tothe right, as viewed in Figure 6, closing two circuits and breaking oneand locking the armatures 288 and 290 in the closed position. Thecircuit broken is that through armature 290 holding the solenoid winding332 energized. As soon as solenoid 332 becomes de-energized, the valve334 will move to a position driving the mandrel centers in andsupporting the mandrel by the mandrel arm centers. As soon as themandrel centers move inwardly, the mandrel centers switches 96 willclose. The first circuit established by the energization of the centersrelay winding 284 is that through the cycling relay winding 256 by wayof conductor 438, armature 290, conductor 458, armature 292, conductor468 and the now closed mandrel centers switches 96. The energization ofthe winding 256 will move armatures 258 and 260 to the left. Movingarmature 260 to the left interrupts the circuit through the auxiliarycycling relay 262 and makes a circuit through the cycle interlock relaywinding 290', current flowing from conductor 216, through conductor 448,through the cycle interlock relay winding 290, through conductor 454,through conductor 462, through armature 260, through conductor 426,through conductor 428, to the other side of the line 218. Theenergization of the cycle interlock relay winding 290 opens switch 292and interrupts the circuit through the cycling relay winding 256. Thisrelay, however, is locked in its down-driving position. The secondcircuit made by the actuation of the centers relay winding 284 is nowestablished. The current will flow from conductor 216, through conductor448, through winding 290', through conductor 454, through armature 288,through conductor 456, through armature 294, through conductor 420, tothe other side of the line 218. This second circuit, it will beobserved,

the phototube 116.

maintains the .cycle interlock relay winding..2.9.0. energized andprevents another ,cycle from beingre-established. It will be rememberedthat both the, mandrelarm. and the roll arm are in their up limitpositions. In the up limit'.-position.theroll arm down limit switch 112is clbsed- When the cycling-relay is. actuated, the air solenoid. 328will become energized by current. flowing through the. normally closed.rollarm. .downf limit switch 112,. through, armature; 2.4.4; through.conductor 470, through armature. 258, through conductor 426, throughconductorv 428., to,.the other side ofthejline 218. This will energize.the solenoid winding. 328.. and move the va1ver330 tQ-its airvsupplyingposition, thatis, to open the. valve to provide. communication between.lliefiuid pressure source S and-the fluid pressurermanifoldjP. Whenthe;auxiliary. cycling relay. becomes. de-energized, the; circuit: throughsolenoid winding, 324. is. interrupted by. thetnovernent. offarmature26.8..tov the left. The de-. energizationoftthe winding.324 will.movethe-valve 326 to=the.. position: shown, in Figure; 6,. that. is,it: connects the down-driving sideofthe cylinder. or. air. motortwhichdrives. the. mandrel arms to the source of fluid pressure so. thatthemandrelarms;64 are .rotated...in aclockwise directionasviewedinIFigures 1 and..2, owing toithe clockwise. driving; of. the shaft. 62;by' the; air. motor: This-t clockwise rotation of the mandrel. armswhichnow. bearfihe. mandrel. through; the mandrel. centers. will liftthe. mandrel. out: of. the...\L-blocks and open the: vrb'lock switches74. The mandrel arms will come to rest against their: down? stops. 67and in so,- doingwill open the mandrel: downlimit switch. 110., thus.interrupting the Circuit. through. roll: arm, valve solenoid. winding.32.0. t This will rotatethe. roll.arm-controlzvalvefiil. to, con? nest.pipe 41.with .the: pressure manifold. R; and pipe; 43 with the: exhaustmanifold E driving thepistou, 3.1 of

. theroll arm. air motor to the. let,..as:.viewed in Figure 1.: Thiswill. rotate :the pinion, 37: im a counterclockwise direction .and the;spur gear 39'' in a, clockwise direction,

of movable rolls 42. and.44.. 'The.=roll'i42,.coogerating withtthe:driving roll; 161-, forms-atpoc-ketdof. the belt embracing themandrel7.6',1.as.- can readily bezseent by refenenceto Figure'B.Thec-loelowiserrotation .OfE theroll armst 36: will bring; the rollarmsagainst their; down limit stopsAfl, and taetuatettherroll :arm adown;limit switch 112 toopenxit. This interrupts; the. circuit.- through theair supply valve solenoid:wi-ndingin andzclosestheair supply;interrupting;.it;.in,soifar. asrthe air. motors for the roll arms. and;mandrel. arms are concerned.

. The helt'motonissdriving the belt SlLaroundathemamdreliwhich-iscarried by-thecenters supportedrby the mandrel arms. Thebelt traverses the twa -fixed; rolls 24 and. 3t and E the ,two movablerolls 42randt 44, being driven; by. the. driving, roll 1.6. The.tension. with. which the; beltZ embraces the: mandrel is. determined bythe weightvof. the+tensioning ,roll .52 .and.- its.associated rmasses54:. Themachine. is; now ready; for. the reception. of, a-

may, be. continuously; operatingyandi any. appropriate means. such, as.another. conveyor, for, example. may, be emplovedtto deposit. the. mat:122. uppmthe. conveyor L18, Iftdesiredathe.mattmay be imposition tuponC9114 veyor 118 and the. conveyor. may beidle,v tovbeudriven' by any,appropriate: motor, actuated by, the. operation of, the-roll sarm dow-n:limit. switch;1-12.,. as. will ,be. readily understood by thoseskilledinathe arh. Theglasszfiber mat 122 will moveeto; the leftastviewed-inl iguresfi, and interrupt the light. beam: from the. source.il4iunon When this occurs, the: current thr oughtwinding306.:is:.established;. Thisopens the-mircuit through. armaturefilll.and..closes ..the.circuit..through armaturer 312 through. which the.delay. interlock relay winding,2.72 energized, The energization of.winding 272 moves armaturesr274rand .276,to ..the.left,.the..arma,-tures. being (locked. in this. position mechanically. They will .bereleased. electrically by the energi'zation of the .winding 282. Themovementof. armature: 2.74, to the left completespartofi the circuit.through: the mat. delay. relay. winding. 2.178. The. circuit. nowbroken; by the armature 310 having. been. moved. to. the... left. by.the interruption ,ofrlightuponthe phdtotubellfi. The phototube willremainin its. no light! position as. long as the mat. 122..is. passingfrom the. conveyon 118... tothe mandrel. and. is. being .wound. upon.the mandrel through the. action of,the5helt,50,,as willbe readily.understood by. thoseesloilled in. the art. There. is t enough. space, between the. pocket-forming. roll. 42 and. the. driving. roll 16 sothatthemat wilLrest-by, gravity. upon. that portion of the. belt 5.0 which.willconvey-themat. whichis being. woundto. the mandrel. and carry itabout. the mandrel.v As. soonas the.mat;.is.rolled.on theman: drel,.its. trailingedge will passtout. of. the path of the light beam. and.permitlight. again, to fall upon. the phototube, 11.6.- Whem this,occurs,-, the. phototube. will agaimconduct to biasthegridoftthezthyratron. so that it.- will no.1onger. conduct, thusde-energizing the. relay winding306.. Contactfaltl will again move tothe.posi.-, tionshownin Figure .6. and-I complete a.circuit through the.mat delay. relays winding 27.8. After the. predetermined..delay, .whichhasbeen preset,.armature;280 will move. to the left. This closes.the..circuit.so .that .current will flow: from. conductorszlfi, through.conductor. 422, through. conductor 421, through. armature. 289, throughconductor. 425, energizing the winding 257, releasing the cycling relay.from its, downward.v drivingppsition and permittingit to. resume its.up.driving position. ,At the same time, current. will. flowthrough.conductor. 427, through. winding 2.82,.through. conductor. 430, throughconduetor..43;2,. energizing. the release winding 282 to release.thelatched. delay. interlock; relay, permitting h-te. armatures- 276..and 274m return to the. position shown in Figure 6.. This.-. breaks the;circuit through the. mat delay relay winding278 by. interrupting itthrough arma ture, 2.7 The. movement. of... the. cycling relay tov itsupward, driving positionre-energizes theauxiliary cycling relay 262,thusrerestablishing theair supply through. the. normally closed.mandrelarm up. limitswitch 68 and .now closedauxilia'ry, cyclingrelayarmature 2.70. The. roll arm. valve. solenoidi winding; 320 is.energized through armature 25.8. and. drives the... roll arm upwardly tothepositionsh'own in EigureZ until it reaches its up.-

ward. stop. 46.; and closesthej rollarm up limit switch 48.. The.closing of the, roll, arrnup, limit switch 48 establishes. a circuit.through the. mandrel. arm, solenoid 32Athrough1the. now closed.auxiliary cycling. relay armature 268. This moves the mandrehmotorcontrol l valve;326 to. a. position. to.drive the. mandrel motor, inits; upwardrdirectionto. raise theT mandrel arms upward against. their.stops 6.6 and.open, the mandrel arm up limit switch .68, which fnowinterrupts .the. circuit, through air. supply. solenoid; Winding,328.and'closes. the air sup.- ply. toboththe. mandrel androll armdriving motors.

- As soon. as. the. mandrel reaches its up. stops, the mandrel: with.the rolledor wound matthereon. is re positioned in the V.-hlo.ck's..,This:recloses the V-block switches. and rerenergizes the impulse-typecenters relay through. its winding 284; This returns the centers relaytowits. open.position,.as. shown in, Figure. 6. The movingofarmature290' to. its openposition ire-establishes the. circuit. through mandrelcenter. cylinder solenoid winding;,3.32..and.moves.thecenterscoutwardly, while the mandrel, is supported byQtheV-blOeks.Assoon as the centers, move; outwardly, the mandrel. centers, switches96 areopened, interrupting.thecircuitthrough the cycling relay wihdingTheenergization of; thecenters re-. lay. winding,28'4 opens theiholding.circuit. through the cycle interlock relay winding 290' through armature288, thus allowing the cycle interlock relay to return to its normalposition as shown in Figure 6. The rolled mat upon the mandrel can thenbe removed from the V-blocks manually and the machine is ready toreceive another mandrel for the next cycle.

If an abnormally thick mat or one too long for the mandrel size isdelivered to the machine, the mat will be wound around the mandrel andbuilt up to a greater thickness than is desired. The required wrapdensity is achieved by compressing the mat between the mandrel and thepocket-forming roll and the drive roll, governed, of course, by theweight upon the tensioning roll. The friction, however, of the belt issuch that an overly thick wrap would instantaneously develop higherpressures than desired. These pressures might develop to a point wherethe mandrel or the mandrel centers may become damaged. In order toprevent damage to the mandrel from this cause, the mandrel centers aremounted on spring-loaded blocks, which are adjustable for differentmandrel sizes. The initial spring tension is sufficient to give propercompression and wrap density with a mat of correct thickness and length.The spring tension, however, will allow the centers to move with anoverwrap upon the mandrel. When the center blocks move, they will closethe mandrel overwrap alarm switches 104, the closing of either one ofwhich will energize the winding 314. When the winding becomes energized,the opening of armature 316 will de-energize the motor starter winding220 to stop the motor 19 which drives the belt. At the same time theswitch 318 will be closed to energize an overwrap alarm 317 through theconductor 319. The automatic switch can then be moved to manual positionand the parts moved upwardly to a position where the excess mat can becut off to remove the overwrap condition.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention.We have provided an improved mat winding machine which is certain inoperation and in which the sequence of operations is automatically controlled in a predetermined manner. Mats may be wound conveniently,expeditiously and rapidly upon themselves while positioned on mandrelsto form tubes of the mats. The mat material may be compressed radiallyto a predetermined density during the winding operation. The operationof our machine is automatically initiated by placing an empty mandrel ina predetermined position on V-block supports, to which position the matwound upon the mandrel is returned and the machine automaticallystopped. We have provided an improved control for mat winding machinesadapted to supervise the sequential cyclic operation of the machine. Itwill be further noted that our mat winding machine substantiallycompletely confines the mat circumferentially during the windingoperation.

It will be understood .that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of ourclaims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made indetails within the scope of our claims without departing from the spiritof our invention. It is therefore to be understood that our invention isnot to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a winding machine, a mandrel, means for rotatably supporting themandrel in a fixed position during a winding operation, a plurality ofrolls, an endless belt carried by the rolls, two of said rolls havingtheir peripheries positioned adjacent to each other and to the peripheryof the mandrel to form a pocket of the belt extending around the majorportion of the periphery of the mandrel and means for rotating one ofsaid rolls to drive the belt and rotate the mandrel.

' 2. A winding machine as in claim 1, in which said 12 means forrotatably supporting the mandrel comprises a pair of arms, centerscarried by said arms and means for reciprocating said centers. v

3. In a winding machine, a mandrel, means for re tatably supporting themandrel, a plurality of rolls, an endless belt carried by the rolls, twoof said rolls having their peripheries positioned adjacent to each otherand to the periphery of the mandrel to form a pocket of the beltextending around the major portion of the periphery of the mandrel,means for rotating one of said rolls to drive the belt and rotate themandrel and means for maintaining the belt under tension.

4. A winding machine as in claim 3, in which said means for maintainingthe belt under tension comprises a floating roll carried by the belt.

5. In a winding machine, a mandrel, a pair of. arms for rotatablysupporting the mandrel, a plurality of fixed rolls, a pair of roll arms,a movable roll rotatably carried by the roll arms, an endless beltcarried by said fixed and movable rolls, means for moving the mandrelarms to bring the mandrel selectively to a position remote from oradjacent to one of said fixed rolls, means for moving the roll arms tobring the movable roll selectively to a position remote from or adjacentto said last named fixed roll and said mandrel to form a pocket of thebelt extending around the major portion of the periphery of the mandreland a motor for rotating one of said fixed rolls to drive the belt androtate the mandrel.

6. A winding machine as in claim 5, including means carried by themandrel arms for yieldably supporting the mandrel and means responsiveto movement of said yieldable support for stopping said motor.

7. A winding machine as in claim 5, having means for supporting themandrel adjacent the mandrel arms when the mandrel arms are in remoteposition, means responsive to the positioning of said mandrel upon saidsupporting means for interengaging the mandrel and the mandrel arms andmeans responsive to the interengagement of the mandrel and the mandrelarms for actuating said mandrel arm moving means to move the mandrelfrom its position remote from said fixed roll to a position adjacentsaid fixed roll.

8. A winding machine as in claim 5, including in combination meansresponsive to the positioning of the mandrel arms from their positionremote from one of said fixed rolls to a position adjacent said fixedroll for actuating said roll arm moving means to move the roll arms fromtheir position remote from said fixed roll to a position adjacent saidfixed roll.

9. A winding machine as in claim 5, including in combinationphotoelectric means for actuating said roll arm moving means to move theroll arms from a position adjacent said fixed roll to a position remotefrom said fixed roll.

10. A winding machine as in claim 5, including means responsive to thepositioning of the roll arms from their position adjacent said fixedroll to a position remote from said fixed roll for actuating saidmandrel arm moving means to move the mandrel arms from a positionadjacent said fixed roll to a position remote from said fixed roll. 7

11. A winding machine as in claim 5, including means responsive to themovement of the roll arms from their position remote from said fixedroll to a position adjacent said fixed roll for rendering said mandrelarm and roll arm moving means inoperative.

12. A winding machine as in claim 5, including in combination meansresponsive to the movement of said mandrel arms from their positionadjacent said fixed roll to a position remote from said fixed roll forrendering said mandrel arm and roll arm moving means inoperative.

13. A winding machine as in claim 5, including means for interengagingthe mandrel arms and the mandrel and I to said photoelectric means forrendering said means for moving said mandrel arms and means for movingsaid roll arms operative.

15. A winding machine, including in combination a j mandrel, a pair ofmandrel arms, means carried by the mandrel arms for releasablysupporting the mandrel for rotation, a pair of roll arms, a pair ofmovable rolls carried by said roll arms, a plurality of fixed rolls, anendless belt carried by said fixed and movable rolls, means for movingthe mandrel arms to carry the mandrel to a position adjacent one of saidfixed rolls, means for moving said roll arms to carry one of saidmovable rolls to a position adjacent both said mandrel and said lastnamed fixed roll to form a pocket of the belt extending around the majorportion of the periphery of the mandrel and a motor for rotating one ofsaid fixed rolls to drive the belt and to rotate said mandrel.

16. A winding machine, including in combination a mandrel, a pair ofmandrel arms, means carried by the mandrel arm-s for releasablysupporting the mandrel for rotation, a pair of roll arms, a pair ofmovable rolls carried by said roll arms, a plurality of fixed rolls, anendless belt carried by said fixed and movable rolls, means for movingthe mandrel arms to carry the mandrel to a position adjacent one of saidfixed rolls, means for moving said roll arms to carry one of saidmovable rolls to a position adjacent both said mandrel and said lastnamed fixed roll to form a pocket of the belt extending around the majorportion of the periphery of the mandrel, a motor for rotating one ofsaid fixed rolls to drive the belt and to rotate said mandrel, and afloating roll carried by the belt for maintaining the belt under apredetermined tension.

17. In a winding machine, a pair of pocket-forming rolls and at least athird roll, an endless belt carried by the rolls, a mandrel, means forrotatably supporting the mandrel adjacent the pocket-forming rolls in afixed position during a winding operation, means for relatively movingthe pocket-forming rolls toward each other to form a pocket of the beltextending around the major portion of the periphery of the mandrel andmeans for rotating at least one of the rolls to drive the belt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,262,160 Beard et al Nov. 11, 1941 2,270,043 Fourness et al. Jan. 13,1942 2,353,821 Fourness et a1. July 18, 1944 2,357,157 Wood Aug. 29,1944 2,646,230 Aulen July 21, 1953

